KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian children living abroad can renew their passports with a Malaysian birth certificate and a 12-digit identification number, says Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
During his winding-up speech at the committee stage of the Supply Bill 2024, the Deputy Home Minister said the passport renewal application could be made through parents or guardians at any Malaysian embassy or high commission overseas.
"There are those who raised the issue involving Malaysian children without a MyKad who faced challenges to renew their passports because they only hold MyKid.
"As long as the child possesses a Malaysian-issued birth certificate and a 12-digit identification number, he or she can apply," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 16).
However, Shamsul Anwar explains that the Mekar Diaspora programme exists for situations involving children born overseas to Malaysian parents whose only document was a birth certificate issued by the country where they were born or forms known as Form H or Form W.
"This is when we send a special team from the Home Affairs Ministry under the National Registration Department overseas to help the child obtain a birth certificate or MyKid and, from there, a passport," he said.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong interjected and urged the ministry to continue its efforts in the United States, where more than 3,500 Malaysians were stranded due to similar issues.
